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Post by theblackferret on Jul 30, 2021 16:34:36 GMT
It was Kings College whose property adjoined Aldwych station, not University College Indeed, I did not intend to denigrate Tim Dunn. The programme is interesting and his enthusiasm is obviously genuine. His rapport with co-presenter Siddy Holloway also comes over well. And I am learning new stuff - I didn't know that "Bull & Bush" now has the surface entrance it never got when it was originally built. Whether Lady Octavia Barnet's influence was beneficial I suppose depends on whether you wanted another Tube station (and lots of houses), or Hampstead Heath to be kept as it was. We would all have our own presentational styles if we were on TV, just as we thankfully have our individual posting styles here,variety's the word & thank goodness for it. I learnt new stuff too-on last week's-that the fabled spiral escalator wasn't just an urban legend, it existed and was installed at Caledonian Road on a trial basis. Thankfully, it was found guilty & swiftly removed. Perhaps Barking would have been a more appositely-named station in which to install it? |
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Post by programmes1 on Jul 30, 2021 17:18:34 GMT
It was Kings College whose property adjoined Aldwych station, not University College Indeed, I did not intend to denigrate Tim Dunn. The programme is interesting and his enthusiasm is obviously genuine. His rapport with co-presenter Siddy Holloway also comes over well. And I am learning new stuff - I didn't know that "Bull & Bush" now has the surface entrance it never got when it was originally built. Whether Lady Octavia Barnet's influence was beneficial I suppose depends on whether you wanted another Tube station (and lots of houses), or Hampstead Heath to be kept as it was. We would all have our own presentational styles if we were on TV, just as we thankfully have our individual posting styles here,variety's the word & thank goodness for it. I learnt new stuff too-on last week's-that the fabled spiral escalator wasn't just an urban legend, it existed and was installed at Caledonian Road on a trial basis. Thankfully, it was found guilty & swiftly removed. Perhaps Barking would have been a more appositely-named station in which to install it? TBF you are right different styles for different people Tim comes across as excited and that's his. Anyway I thought you said you had learned something about the spiral escalator it seems you did not as it was at Holloway Road go to the back of the class  |
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Post by timbo on Aug 1, 2021 23:05:39 GMT
Does anyone else find the male presenter annoying? He seems to find everything wildly exciting. Tell yer what, old bean: it’s even worse when you have to live with that personality of every damned hour of every damned day…  |
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Tom
Administrator
Signalfel?
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Post by Tom on Aug 2, 2021 8:06:10 GMT
Tell yer what, old bean: it’s even worse when you have to live with that personality of every damned hour of every damned day… |
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Post by revupminster on Aug 3, 2021 20:03:44 GMT
Interesting last night on Piccadilly Circus and all the disused parts. Highgate was good; I'll have to google earth it.
I wanted more on the Passimeter as I worked in so many. Even LMS and it's stations Upney to Upminster nearly all had Passimeters when opened. There were no safes so you took the money usually in a cloth cash bag to the mess room where the safe was.
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Post by theblackferret on Aug 4, 2021 9:34:55 GMT
Interesting last night on Piccadilly Circus and all the disused parts. Highgate was good; I'll have to google earth it. I wanted more on the Passimeter as I worked in so many. Even LMS and it's stations Upney to Upminster nearly all had Passimeters when opened. There were no safes so you took the money usually in a cloth cash bag to the mess room where the safe was. Also struck me the passimeter would have made a great entrance porch to one's home,or a man-cave annexe in the garden for spare bits & pieces, or a craft room extension with a difference for Mrs tbf & co near the conservatory-the racks & pigeon-holes fit so many purposes. Nothing like as good as having them all back on the Tube, together with cash & ticket machines, would be, but I don't suppose it will ever happen. Once again missed the Leslie Green original buildings at The Circus,shame they couldn't have scale-modelled one in 1928 for Eros to've stood on after the reconstruction. Nice to be reminded about the bats at Highgate and to see Edwin Johnston's photograph-precious, and that's just his attitude! |
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DWS
every second count's
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Post by DWS on Aug 4, 2021 9:40:40 GMT
Interesting last night on Piccadilly Circus and all the disused parts. Highgate was good; I'll have to google earth it. I wanted more on the Passimeter as I worked in so many. Even LMS and it's stations Upney to Upminster nearly all had Passimeters when opened. There were no safes so you took the money usually in a cloth cash bag to the mess room where the safe was. Who took the money to a local Bank, back in the day before money was collected by men in armoured vans ? |
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DWS
every second count's
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Post by DWS on Aug 4, 2021 9:46:23 GMT
Interesting last night on Piccadilly Circus and all the disused parts. Highgate was good; I'll have to google earth it. I wanted more on the Passimeter as I worked in so many. Even LMS and it's stations Upney to Upminster nearly all had Passimeters when opened. There were no safes so you took the money usually in a cloth cash bag to the mess room where the safe was. Also struck me the passimeter would have made a great entrance porch to one's home,or a man-cave annexe in the garden for spare bits & pieces, or a craft room extension with a difference for Mrs tbf & co near the conservatory-the racks & pigeon-holes fit so many purposes. Nothing like as good as having them all back on the Tube, together with cash & ticket machines, would be, but I don't suppose it will ever happen. Once again missed the Leslie Green original buildings at The Circus,shame they couldn't have scale-modelled one in 1928 for Eros to've stood on after the reconstruction. Nice to be reminded about the bats at Highgate and to see Edwin Johnston's photograph-precious, and that's just his attitude! The Passimeters were made of Wood / Plywood and Glass have photos of them seen stored in the open and the rain and weather gets in and rot sets in . |
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Post by MoreToJack on Aug 4, 2021 10:28:54 GMT
Who took the money to a local Bank, back in the day before money was collected by men in armoured vans ? People in armoured vans. |
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DWS
every second count's
Posts: 2,384
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Post by DWS on Aug 4, 2021 14:57:29 GMT
Who took the money to a local Bank, back in the day before money was collected by men in armoured vans ? People in armoured vans. Sorry my bad. |
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Post by jimbo on Aug 4, 2021 20:55:57 GMT
I seem to recall that back in the 1960s the Station Master used to take the money to the local corner bank with one of the platform staff to carry the sack of coins from the ticket hall machines. They were instructed to not wear their uniform hats, and to vary time and route. Later as groups got larger, I think a Chief Clerk was appointed to do this job. Another risk was the late turn booking clerk who would lock up at close and walk home, a target of robbery for station keys. This was overcome by installing 'chimney safes' in ticket offices so the late turn locked the money in the safe and then posted the keys down the chimney into the safe. Morning staff had their own set of keys. This also avoided the late turn having to return next morning with the keys if they were working elsewhere next.
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Post by revupminster on Aug 5, 2021 6:54:58 GMT
As said Station Masters used to do it. Their uniforms had plain buttons as opposed to the Station Inspector who had Griffin buttons. They also had a poachers pocket inside the left hand side of the jacket for the notes. Their overcoats also had a poachers pocket.
The station master at Shadwell DID wear his hat as he walked through Watney St market to the Commercial Road and the bank. Everybody knew where he was going.
Booking clerks never had station keys so I was often locked outside with the passengers in the morning until one of the passengers from a train, usually a postman, used the emergency key from a glass case that had to be broken. Very few stations before the 1990s had night supervisors. Upney to Upminster Bridge did from the takeover in 1969/70.
Chief Clerks took over the banking in 70s when booking clerks still had no uniforms, except Relief Clerks who covered Station Masters and had the same uniform, and wore their own clothes. They were given a light brief case to carry the notes in case they were attacked it could be easily surrendered. Attacks on Booking Clerks despite carrying money from Passimeters and ticket hall machines was vary rare.
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Post by Chris L on Aug 5, 2021 12:32:05 GMT
There was a spate of robberies on the east end of the District line just prior to new ticket offices and gates being installed.
A nail gun was used to break the old ticket office window and intimidate the booking clerk.
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rincew1nd
Administrator
Junior Under-wizzard of quiz
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Post by rincew1nd on Aug 5, 2021 19:41:31 GMT
I seem to recall that back in the 1960s the Station Master used to take the money to the local corner bank with one of the platform staff to carry the sack of coins from the ticket hall machines. They were instructed to not wear their uniform hats, and to vary time and route. It's not uncommon for staff in small/medium sized retailers to take cash to their local bank or post office. My own team have a selection of bags from other retailers that we use to carry cash when banking takings. That said, I know of at least one 'Chief Clerk' for a railway company who would always take the money to the bank in an HSBC carrier - on the grounds that it was a double bluff. I was once asked to take the monies and I accidentally on purpose tore the bag and then set fire to it. Edit to add: Not sure what this has got to do with timbo's wonderful new TV show though!
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Post by miff on Aug 6, 2021 6:00:27 GMT
Sounds like “how they got the money to the bank” is another UndergrounD secret to be explored in a future programme |
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Post by quex on Aug 6, 2021 6:16:59 GMT
Sounds like “how they got the money to the bank” is another UndergrounD secret to be explored in a future programme You joke, but the Paris Metro does/did indeed have a "secret" branch line, called the "Voie des Finances"(literally "Finance Line") that was used to delivery money to the RATP headquarters. It was associated with a little 600mm-gauge railway too, a bit like our Post Office Railway. London stuff is getting a bit overdone for me now, but "Secrets of the Paris Metro" or the NYC Subway, are shows I'd gladly watch if you fancy a holiday courtesy of the production company, Tim! |
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Post by siriami on Aug 6, 2021 8:54:26 GMT
And the Berlin U Bahn has many fascinating nuggets of information and things to see - and do. Would make a great series. (Sorry to be a little
off-topic here).
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Post by shunterl44 on Aug 8, 2021 11:29:31 GMT
Couple of things about North End/ Bull & Bush station. First, I recall reading that Lady Barnett wanted the station to open to allow easy access to the Heath Extension but the UndergrounD weren't interested as the extension meant that there would be little housing and hence too little income. The station came into its own during the project to remove the experimental sound reduction asbestos panels from the running tunnels providing a useful location to store the double bagged waste awaiting removal by works train.
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Post by theblackferret on Aug 10, 2021 9:40:06 GMT
Programme #4 last night covered the parts of Euston other beers cannot reach & York Road Station.
Found it a real wind-up to be reminded that the white elephant vanity project HS2 caused a Leslie Green building to be needlessly demolished. Not the presenter's fault, mind you.
York Road looked ready to reopen, albeit they need to reinstate the platforms & lifts, with a few washes from a decent pressure hose.
Informative to learn this time:
-the neon colours seen in Tube adverts throughout the 1960's had only been patented as recently as 1957.
-that the York Road signal frame was bodily rescued & not only still helps train signallers, but that there are still frames of a similar vintage working on the Met today.
Best bit was when Tim took a driver underneath the Northern Line at Euston-the guy has driven over those hidden bits at least 40,000 times in his 20+ years driving & couldn't believe just what was there-brilliant.
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Post by jimbo on Aug 10, 2021 9:45:05 GMT
Programme #4 last night covered the parts of Euston other beers cannot reach & York Road Station. Found it a real wind-up to be reminded that the white elephant vanity project HS2 caused a Leslie Green building to be needlessly demolished. Not the presenter's fault, mind you. York Road looked ready to reopen, albeit they need to reinstate the platforms & lifts, with a few washes from a decent pressure hose..... A bit more than that! link |
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slugabed
Zu lang am schnuller.
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Post by slugabed on Aug 10, 2021 11:05:49 GMT
As of last week,the Leslie Green building on Cardington St was still standing.
That's not to say it is in any way safe.
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Post by quex on Aug 10, 2021 11:18:49 GMT
As of last week,the Leslie Green building on Cardington St was still standing. That's not to say it is in any way safe. Indeed - on passing through Euston every now and then, I'm pleasantly surprised that it has survived so long against the demolition threat. I assume that its days really are numbered by now though. |
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Post by jimbo on Aug 10, 2021 12:25:22 GMT
Is the new vent shaft now in place to provide a replacement?
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Post by siriami on Aug 11, 2021 8:39:10 GMT
It's a pity that the Euston Leslie Green building couldn't be saved (or at the very least the facade). It would make a nice addition to somewhere like the tramway museum at Crich or Beamish. Or one of the railway museums?
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Post by theblackferret on Aug 11, 2021 9:48:32 GMT
It's a pity that the Euston Leslie Green building couldn't be saved (or at the very least the facade). It would make a nice addition to somewhere like the tramway museum at Crich or Beamish. Or one of the railway museums? I'm sure Leslie Green would like that, especially if it were used as a ticket-office! |
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Post by brigham on Aug 12, 2021 7:20:52 GMT
It's a pity that the Euston Leslie Green building couldn't be saved (or at the very least the facade). It would make a nice addition to somewhere like the tramway museum at Crich or Beamish. Or one of the railway museums? I'm sure Leslie Green would like that, especially if it were used as a ticket-office! Not sure of the Co. Durham relevance, though. |
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Post by jimbo on Aug 12, 2021 7:37:39 GMT
It's a pity that the Euston Leslie Green building couldn't be saved (or at the very least the facade). It would make a nice addition to somewhere like the tramway museum at Crich or Beamish. Or one of the railway museums? I guess it would take a lot of fund raising to pay for relocation and erection on a new site. And there are many similar stations still in use spread around London, so one won't have to travel that far to enjoy their presence. |
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Post by revupminster on Aug 16, 2021 21:14:16 GMT
Tonight's episode really interested me having worked at Aldgate East over the years. The keys for ST Mary's were kept here and in my day the entrance was a doorway at a petrol station on the Whitechapel Road. I knew what the hooks were for in the ceiling.
The reason for moving the station was said for longer trains, but they were already many 8 car trains and they fouled the junctions at Aldgate while waiting to enter the original Aldgate East eastbound and the rear of westbound trains would still be in the platform waiting to cross the Aldgate junctions to either Tower Hill or Liverpool Street..
The new station was a filthy station to work at, as was Mile End both just below the surface, because of tunnel dust and up to 1970 engineers steam locomotives standing waiting for the signal.
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Post by theblackferret on Aug 17, 2021 9:25:06 GMT
Tonight's episode really interested me having worked at Aldgate East over the years. The keys for ST Mary's were kept here and in my day the entrance was a doorway at a petrol station on the Whitechapel Road. I knew what the hooks were for in the ceiling. The reason for moving the station was said for longer trains, but they were already many 8 car trains and they fouled the junctions at Aldgate while waiting to enter the original Aldgate East eastbound and the rear of westbound trains would still be in the platform waiting to cross the Aldgate junctions to either Tower Hill or Liverpool Street.. The new station was a filthy station to work at, as was Mile End both just below the surface, because of tunnel dust and up to 1970 engineers steam locomotives standing waiting for the signal. It was a real revelation to discover there are still remnants of Aldgate East #1 as well as St Mary's. Never looked for these when on trains, unlike with St Mary's, so that's one back on the bucket list. The other part of last night's show & Oxford Circus-it was a great & pleasant surprise about the tiling on the former Bakerloo spiral staircase there-fantastic condition. Pity the first station at Oxford Circus (Central Line) didn't have its' architect named on the show-Harry Bell Measures-though at least we know the facade is preserved as Grade II listed. |
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Post by norbitonflyer on Aug 17, 2021 12:06:32 GMT
The keys for ST Mary's ......... in my day the entrance was a doorway at a petrol station on the Whitechapel Road. I knew what the hooks were for in the ceiling. . I once visited what was left of the surface buildings at St Marys, which was at the time a car showroom, without realising its history. What the programme did not mention was that when St Marys opened, the present Whitechapel station did not exist. The line was originally a connection between the East London Line and the existing District and Metropolitan (at Mansion House and Liverpool Street respectively). Only later was the "Whitechapel & Bow" extension built through a new Whitechapel station, branching off what became the "St Marys curve". Which is why what is now the main line does a "jink" just after St Marys. |
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